419 scam: bettyramses@post.com OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION!

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash. If it's a lottery prize, remember that real lotteries do not pay large prizes by check. They wire the money directly to your bank account and you do not pay for that. Many scammers promise a large check only in order to then demand payment of courier fees for a fake courier service. )
- "james.marshall@microsoftlotteryboard.com" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +34672883648 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)

Fraud email example:

From: bettyramses@post.com
Reply-To: james.marshall@microsoftlotteryboard.com
Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2015 22:13:21 +0200
Subject: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION!

Microsoft Corporation Sweepstakes Promotion,
Customer Service.
Your Winning Batch No: HLS/LTY/2901
Your Winning Reference No: MIC/029/2910

OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION.

We are pleased to inform you of the release of the long awaited results of Sweepstakes promotion organized by Microsoft Corporations, in conjunction with the FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SOFTWARE products, (F.P.S.) held on April 2015, in Madrid Spain.Were in your email address emerged as one of the online Winning emails in the 2nd category and therefore attracted a cash award of 350,000.00 euro (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Euros Only) and a Toshiba laptop.

This is an independent promotion and it's unconnected to any publication, no purchase necessary.All participants were selected through our Microsoft computer ballot system drawn from 32,000 Names, 8,000 names from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL"Promotions Program, for our prominent MS WORD user all over the world,and for the Continues use of E-mail.

To file for the release of your winning you are advice to contact our Foreign Transfer Manager:

Mr. James Marshall
(Foreign Transfer Manager)
Tel:0034-672-883-648
Fax:0034-917-692-866
Email:james.marshall@microsoftlotteryboard.com

INFORMATION NEEDED FROM YOU TO SEND YOUR LAPTOP AND TO ISSUE YOUR CHEQUE ON YOUR FULL NAME AND CONTACT ADDRESS!!

YOUR FULL NAME:

OCCUPATION:

AGE:

SEX:

ADDRESS:

POST CODE:

CITY:

STATE:

COUNTRY:

MOBILE-TELEPHONE:

FAX NUMBER:

WINNER EMAIL ADDRESS:

REFERENCE NUMBER:

AMOUNT WON:

As soon as you send the information to us by Email, these will enable us start your Verification Procedure from our Office here in Madrid Spain .However once the verification is done all the necessary documents that are required for you to receive your laptop and Cash Cheque in your country will be file along with your winning CHEQUE PARCEL CONSIGNMENT via COURIER to your contact address you will provide.

The Microsoft Internet E-mail lottery Awards is sponsored by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, consortium of software promotion companies.The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers and other International Companies.The Microsoft Internet E-mail draw is held periodically and is organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy.

Congratulations!!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Betty Ramses,
Promotions Manager.
(Group Co-ordinator)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam